Torenia plant named ‘DANCAT266’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘DANCAT266’ particularly characterized by plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with petals in shades of light yellow with yellow blotch on lower petal; cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate; suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade and good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Torenia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘DANCAT266’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Toreniaplant, botanically known as Torenia sp. of the Scrophulariaceae family,and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANCAT266’

The new Torenia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a newTorenia cultivar with unique yellow flowers.

The new Torenia cultivar originated from an induced mutation by gammarays of the Torenia designated ‘TR-5-134’ (unpatented). made in acontrolled breeding program by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in 2006in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The new Torenia cultivar wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated mutation in acontrolled environment in May of 2006 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia cultivar by soft cuttings wasfirst performed in June of 2006 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, andhas demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivarreproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘DANCAT266’ which in combination distinguishthis Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup-shaped flowers with        petals in shades of light yellow with yellow blotch on lower        petal;    -   2. Cascading bush, which maintains a compact, rounded plant        habit;    -   3. Vigorous growth habit;    -   4. Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging        baskets;    -   5. Early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate        climate;    -   6. Suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial        shade; and    -   7. Good weather tolerance with a preferred temperature range of        15° C. to 25° C.

Plants of the new Torenia ‘DANCAT266’ differ from plants of the parentalcultivar, Torenia ‘TR-5-134’ (unpatented) in the characteristicsdescribed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Parental Cultivar New Cultivar TR-5-134 Characteristic‘DANCAT266’ (unpatented) Mature Flower color Petal shades of light Petalshades of dark violet, yellow, with a yellow with a yellow blotch onblotch on lower petal lower petal Flower size Depth: About 2 cm Depth:About 3 cm Width: About 3.5 cm Width: About 3 cm Growth habit Cascadingbush Trailing Flowering Response 7 weeks from planting 9 weeks fromplanting Time

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Torenia ‘DANCAT266’ is the Torenia‘DANMOON16’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,333), in thecharacteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘DANMOON16’ Trait ‘DANCAT266’(patented, U.S. PP18,333) Mature Flower Petal shades of light Petalshades of yellow Color yellow (RHS 5A, RHS (RHS 7A), with no yellow 5Cand RHS 6A), with blotch on lower petal and a a yellow blotch (RHSpurple throat (RHS N79A 7A) on lower petal and and RHS 70B) a purplethroat (RHS 77A)t Flower size Depth: About 2 cm Depth: About 3.0 cmWidth: About 3.5 cm Width: About 3.2 cm Growth habit Cascading bushCascading bush Flowering Response 7 weeks from planting 3 weeks fromplanting Time

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Torenia ‘DANCAT266’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘DANCAT266’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘DANCAT266’ in a hanging planter at 2 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of‘DANCAT266’ at 2 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia ‘DANCAT266’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘DANCAT266’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Optimal growth conditions include that plants of ‘DANCAT266’are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and indoors during the winterseason. Irrigation and fertilization are recommended on a regular basis.Plants of ‘DANCAT266’ are usually grown in full sunlight, but partialshade is required in mid summer. Plants of ‘DANCAT266’ are fully grownin 2 months from planting a cutting in the summer season and bloom allyear-round in a moderate climate. The ‘DANCAT266’ plants describedherein were grown indoors in 13 cm pots in a glass greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel, with the day temperatures ranging from 18° C.to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 25° C. Plants of‘DANCAT266’ were fertilized with level of 150 ppm N.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the‘DANCAT266’ plants described is 7 weeks.

-   Parentage: Torenia designated ‘TR-5-134’ (unpatented).-   Propagation: Tissue culture and soft tip cuttings.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Bush, cascading.        -   Growth habit.—Rounded.        -   Height.—About 10 cm to 20 cm.        -   Spread.—About 20 cm to 35 cm.        -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperatures below 5° C. may            damage plants.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous growth; plants are fully grown in 2 months            from planting cutting in during summer season.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Yellow-green, RHS 144A.        -   Length.—About 20 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Minimal.        -   Branching.—About 3 to 5 main branches grow from the base and            split into hundreds of secondary and tertiary branches.        -   Length of internodes.—About 2 cm to 6 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Overall shape.—Triangular.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Size of leaf.—Width: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Length: About            1.5 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color (mature).—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137A. Upper            side: Green, RHS 137A. Under side: Yellow-green, RHS 146A.        -   Color (immature).—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137B.            Upper side: Green, RHS 137B. Under side: Yellow-green, RHS            146A.        -   Leaf texture.—Upper: Pubescence. Under: Pubescence.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Anastomotic. Color: Upper surface: Green,            RHS 137A. Lower surface: Green, RHS 137C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm. Diameter: About            2.0 mm. Color: Green, RHS 143A.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in a moderate climate or in            a greenhouse environment. In Israel, flowering occurs            between March and November outdoors.        -   Flowering response time.—About 7 weeks from planting.        -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Per stem: About 5 to 10; Per plant:            About 40 to 60.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: About 4-7 days. Depend on            temperature. Vase life: not relevant.        -   Type.—Single.        -   Shape.—Overall: funnel form; 5-winged;, Corolla tube:            cylindrical or often broadened above; Corolla: 2-lipped, the            upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed.        -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flower size.—Depth: About 2.0 cm. Width: About 3.5 cm.        -   Bud.—        -   Shape.—Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoid, 5-winged.        -   Size.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—Apex: Green, RHS 137B. Base: Green, RHS 137B. Middle:            Green, RHS 137B.        -   Texture.—Pubescence on winged edges.        -   Floral tube.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 0.5 cm to            1.0 cm. Color: Outside: Violet, RHS 83B (apex), violet, RHS            83A (middle) and green-yellow, RHS 1C (base). Inside:            Green-yellow, RHS 1D (apex), purple-violet, RHS N81A            (middle), and purple-violet, RHS N81A (base).        -   Petals.—Number: Four, fused. Length: Upper Petal: About 1.5            cm; Side Petals: About 1.0 cm; Lower Petal: About 1.0 cm.            Width: Upper Petal: About 2.0 cm; Side Petals: About 1.0 cm;            Lower Petal: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Upper Petal: Overall:            spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Side Petals: Overall:            spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused; Lower Petal: Overall:            spatulate, Apex: rounded, Base: fused. Margin: Undulated.            Color: All petals with yellow color, and a dark yellow            blotch in the middle of the lower petal near base. Mature            Petals: Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Yellow: near apex, RHS            5A, and near base, RHS 5C; and margin, RHS 5A; Side Petals:            Yellow: near apex, RHS 6A, with centralized RHS 6A, and near            base, RHS 6A, and margin RHS 5A; Lower Petal: Yellow:            primarily RHS 6A, with RHS 7A blotch in the middle near            base, and RHS 6A color surrounding blotch and near base, and            margin RHS 6A. Lower Surface: Upper Petal: Yellow: near            apex, RHS 5A, and near base, RHS 5A and margin, RHS 5A; Side            Petals: Yellow: near apex, RHS 5A, and near base, RHS 5C and            margin, RHS 5A; Lower Petal: Yellow: near apex, RHS 5B, and            near base, RHS 5B and margin, RHS 5B. Throat: Upper throat:            Purple, RHS 77A; Lower throat: Purple, RHS 77A. Immature            Petals: Upper Surface: Upper Petal: Yellow: near apex, RHS            6A, and near base, RHS 6A; and margin, RHS 6A; Side Petals:            Yellow: near apex, RHS 6A, near base, RHS 6A, and margin RHS            6A; Lower Petal: Yellow: primarily RHS 6A, with RHS 6A            blotch in the middle near base, and margin RHS 6A. Lower            Surface: Upper Petal: Yellow: near apex, RHS 6A, and near            base, RHS 6A and margin, RHS 6A; Side Petals: Yellow: near            apex, RHS 6A, and near base, RHS 6C, and margin, RHS 6A;            Lower Petal: Yellow: near apex, RHS 6C, and near base, RHS            6C and margin, RHS 6C; Throat: Center of Flower: Purple, RHS            N79D.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 0.5 cm            to 1.0 cm. Shape: Two-lobed, 5-winged. Apex: Acute. Base:            Wedge shaped. Margin: Entire. Color: Green, RHS 137C.        -   Peduncle.—Length: About 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            2.0 mm. Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 2 pairs per flower, fused.            Color: Purple, RHS N79C. Anther: Length: About 0.3 cm;            Width: About 0.1 cm. Color: Purple, RHS 79A. Spur: Not            Present. Filament: Length: About 1.0 cm; upper anther            shorter— about 0.5 cm Width: About 0.1 cm. Color: Violet,            RHS 84C. Pollen: Amount: Moderate Color: White, RHS N155D.            Requirements for pollination: Young flowers, active pollen,            and receptive, open stigma.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: One per flower. Length: About            2.4 cm. Stigma: Length: About 0.3 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm.            Color: Violet, RHS 84C. Style: Length: About 1.9 cm. Color:            Purple, RHS 75C. Ovary: Number: 1. Length: About 0.5 cm.            Width: About 0.2 cm. Color: Green, RHS 143B.-   Seed/fruit: None.-   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard    preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was    observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5° C.

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘DANCAT266’, as illustratedand described herein.